Foundation garment



July l2, 1938. P z. GORDON FOUNDATION GARMENT Filed Aug. '7. 1937 lll/IL Patented July 12, 1938 I FOUNDATION GABMENT Pauline Z. Gordon, New York, N. Y., assignor Pauline Gordon, Inc.. New York, N. Y., a corporation oi New York Application August 7, 1937, Serial No. 157,975

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in foundation garments such as girdles, corsets. allin-ones, pantie girdles and the like.

Among the objects of the invention may be r noted the provision of a foundation garment in the nature of a girdle, corset, all-in-one, pantie girdle and the like, which functions in improved .manner to confine resiliently portions of the body on which it is worn; the provision of a resilient m or elastic foundation garment which is so constructed and arranged as to effect additional confinement of the body where needed without in any way binding the body or being evidenced by unsightly lines showing through the outer garments; the provision of improved features of reinforcement for girdles and the like foundation garments which may be applied to the garment where needed in such manner as to effect additional conning action to that provided` by the girdle itself; the provision of a foundation garment which is thoroughly efficient and dependable in its action and which can be worn with a maximum of ease and comfort. f

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out in connection with the following analysis of this invention wherein is illustrated an embodiment of the invention in detail.

In ythe drawing- Fig. l is a front view of the girdle or like foun` dation garment of the present invention, having additional reinforcing or conning means applied to the abdomen-supporting panel of the girdle;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of a girdle which may be the garment illustrated in Fig. 1, as will be hereinafter explained, with the additional reinforcement or confining means being applied to the lower portion of the rear panel of the girdle;

Fig. 3 is an inner face view of a garment having both front and rear reinforcing means of the present invention applied thereto;

'Fig. 4 is a section generally along lines 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section generally along lines 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a part view of a modied form of girdle in which the reinforcement isapplied to a panel such as the side panel of the girdle, whereby to eiect additional confining action on the hips or thighs.

Referring to the drawing, reference character Ill indicates generally a garment illustrative of the present invention, the girdle portion of which is constituted by the several panels I I, I2, I3 and Il suitably joined along their adjacent side edges (Cl. 2-37l by seams collectively indicated at I5, thus to provide a generally cylindrical garment structure. One of the panels such as the side panel Il may be provided with a placket which may be closed by a fastener I6, preferably of the well known 5 zipper type as illustrated.

In the garment illustrated, the front and rear panels II, I 2respectively, are formed of elastic material commonly knownf as one-way stretch material, and are arranged to be stretchable in 10 a direction longitudinally of the garment; that is to say, in an up-and-down direction. The side panels I3, I4 respectively, of the structure are formed either from some other material, or from the same type one-way stretch material but in 15 the latter case the material is so arranged that the panels are stretchable horizontally, that is. circumferentially of the garment. Thus the garment as shown provides elastic connement of the body portion to which it is applied, it being understood that the material of the panels, while stretchable in the directions as stated, nevertheless offers suflicient resistance to free stretching actionas to effect confinement of the body where needed while at the same time permitting the wearer to have relatively free movement.

It will be understood that the arrangement of panels as illustrated as well as the materials mak! ing up the panels and the direction of stretch thereof as described, represent one construction 30 of a garment of the present invention. Obviously l the panel construction and the selection of materials from which they are made and the direction of stretch of the materials Will depend on the particular type of foundation garment contemplated 5 and on the use and/or figure for which intended. For example, different combinations utilizing the one-way stretch material as described may be employed, as in the case of a garment made of a one-way-stretch front panel and a non-elastic back panel, with one-way-stretch side panels; or

the front and rear panels may be of one-waystretch material as described and the Aside panels of two-way or all elastic materials.

While the girdle as described functions satisfactorily in some instances, it so happens that with certain types of female gures additional co'nnement of certain fleshy parts of the body is desirable or required for proper supporting action.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, wherein additional reinforcement is provided for the abdomen, such preferably takes the form of a. supplemental reinforcing panel 20 arranged along the inner face of the main front panel II. The reinforcing panel 2l is' constructed of the same type materialasthepanel II andarrangedsothatitis stretchable only in the same direction as the ,panelIL panel II The reinforcing 2l is attached along one end edgeatornearthetopedge ofthemainpa'nel II, its top edge being in a preferred form, stantially coincident with the top edge of the which forms the waist line of the garment and secured to the panel along this edge as by suitable stitching. The reinforcing panel may advantageously extend from side edge to side edge of the panel II and is securedto said side edges by stitching which may constitute the stitching for the seams Il as described, altho in some cases a narrower reinforcing panel may be employed. The lower edge of the panel 2l preferably panel Ii and is unsecured, the depth of the reinforcing member being so selected that the reinforcing panel 20 will extend only over the fleshy part of the abdomen which requires the additional support provided by the reinforcing panel. The free or unsecured lower edge of the panel permits the main panel II and the reinforcing panel 2l to act independentlyof each other in their connning action, so that the effect of the main panel and its reinforcing panel 2l is additive. Further, the free edge of the reinforcing panel 2l obviates any binding effect on the wearer as would occur if the edge were secured to the main panel member and at the same time obviates the possibility of puclrering or riding of the main panel as might be evident through the outer garments. A

Where waist-line stays are employed, the reinforcing panel 2Ii may carry such waist-line stays 22 in suitable pockets formed by stitching the pieces of tape 22 along their edges to the inner face of panel 20 as shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to Fig. 2, the reinforcement is there illustrated as associated with the lower portion of the panel I2 qf the garment. thus to provide additional connement for the related eshy parts of the body. The garment illustrated in 111g. 2 may be the same garment as shown in Fig. 1, to which reinforcement is provided for both the front and rear panels, or it may represent a garment to which Athe additional conning -action is associated only with the rear panel, the

front panel being devoid of the additional conflning action as provided by the panel 2l as described. When associated with the rear panel, the additional confinement is generally required adjacent the lower zone of the girdle and accordingly the reinforcing panel member 25 as illustrated in Fig. 3 is secured at or near the lower edge of the main back panel I2 and may have its side edges secured'to the panel I2 along the side edges of the latter as by the seams I5. In this case the top edge of the panel 25 is unsecured.` It will be understood that the reinforcing panel 251s formed of the same type material as that of the main back panel I2 and is stretchable only in the same direction as this back panel.

By this arrangement the panel 25 provides additional confining action for the lower rear fleshy portion of the body without the binding action that would otherwise occur intermediate the length of the main panel I2 if the upper edge of the reinforcing panel 25 were secured thereto.

As the reinforcing panel 25 does not extend to the upper waist-line portion of the garment,

terminates above lthe lower edge of Athe A -the waist-line stays when used may be secured to the main back panel I2, as illustrated, within pockets formed by the face of the panel and inclined tapes 2l, as better indicated in Fig. 4. Where the additional connnement is desired at' the rear upper or waist zone of the garment, the reinforcing panel 25 can of course be arranged to extend downwardly from the ,upper edge of the rear panel I2. 4

Referring to Fig. 6 wherein is illustrated A modiiication of theI features above described, a reinforcing panel lII is associated with one or both of the side panels, such as the side panel Il, whereby to provide the additional confining action about the fleshy part of the hips or thighs. As in case of the rear panel 2l, the hip reinforcing panel is secured along the bottom edge of the side panel I! and along the side seams thereof, its upper edge being free of securement. In'the case of the reinforcing panel being applied' to the side panels Il, I4, which are stretchable circumferentially of the garment, it will be understood that the material of the reinforcing panel 3l is so arranged that this panel stretches only in the same direction as the side panels.

As the present invention contemplates that the additional coniining means provided by the panels 20, 25 and 30 will be applied where needed, it will be understood that the placement of the reinforcing panels is unlimited and depends on Accordingly, locations of the reinforcing member other than those illustrated are intended to the particular figure on which the girdle is worn.

be covered within the scope of thepresent in- 1 vention, the generic idea being that the additional reinforcing member having an unsecured end edge will be applied where needed to garments generally of the foundation type, such as girdles, corsets, all-in-ones, pantie girdles and the like.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall. be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A girdle constituted by a plurality of panels secured to each other along their adjacent side edges, at least one of said panels being formed from material stretchable in a vertical direction only and having associated therewith a reinforcing member of the same type material and equal in width to the panel to which it is secured, said member being stretchable only in the same direction as the panel, one of the ends of the member being secured to the panel adjacent an end edge of the latter, the opposite end of the member being unsecured.

2. A girdle 'formed of front, rear and two side panels, the several panels being secured along their adjacenty side edges, at panels being stretchable ,in a.A vertical direction only, a reinforcing member operatively related to said panel and shorter than the length thereof, said member being stretchable only in the direction that the panel with which it is related is stretchable, means for securing the member to the panel on three sides only, one end of. the member being unsecured, the member extending entirely across the panel and having an end edge substantially coincident with the end edge of the panel with which it is associated.

` PAULINE Z. GORDON.

least one of said 

